FIRST GRADE FOOTNOTES



Dear First Grade Families: 2/26/10

This week’s overview includes:

STAR STUDENTS: Students who showed real leadership and were classroom role models: Emily Edmonds, Sam Long, Jordan Hoffman, Karlee Quenzel, and Madision Holtz! Ask your student about this and what he or she can do to become the next Star Student.

100 DAY EVENTS: We were finally able to celebrate our 100th day of school on Wednesday, 2/24/10! All the students did a wonderful job on their 100th day Math projects. Stop by to view the projects on the tables outside of our classroom and see how creative our 1st graders are! No two projects are the same!

I am also happy to report that we collected 100 cans for Peter’s Pantry (thanks to a generous donation by the Shainline family). Other 100 day activities on Wednesday included writing about what you would do with $100, drawing 100 symbols (stars, hearts, etc.), writing our numbers in descending order 100 – 1, being quiet for 100 seconds, having a special “100” snack (a pretzel rod for the number one and 2 small donuts for the two zeros), and proudly wearing our “I Am 100 Days Smarter” stickers! We ended the day with a music assembly from Appel Farm.

MATH: This week we continued to work with base-10 blocks (cubes, longs, flats), explored place value – tens/ones, solved greater than/less than number stories using weights of animals, amounts of coins, and simple addition problems. Please continue to work with your child at home to solve simple addition and subtraction problems using counters of all kinds (macaroni, cereal, candy, etc). Have your child add and subtract amounts of coins you have at home. Students really need this extra reinforcement at home!

READING: Our story this week was a biography entitled, “Tomas Rivera” about a boy who loved listening to his Grandpa tell stories and eventually ended up becoming a teacher and then a writer because of his love for books. The students discussed their favorite books and who they enjoy reading with. Next week’s selection is a fantasy story entitled, “On the Way to the Pond.”

BOOK BAGS: Pay special attention to the Book Bags this weekend. Many of our students have completed all the books in their current level and the next level books have been sent home. Please let me know how the new level books “fit” your child by completing the form in the bag. I will be asking them to read one of their book bag books to me next week.

Please take the time to have them read and REREAD these books to you. They should read each book at least 2 times over the weekend and work up to reading them 4 times each. Book Bags are to be returned on Mondays.

SPELLING – Next week’s spelling words are R-controlled vowel words /ur/, er, ir, ur words:
sir, dirt, bird, burn, fur, her, quit, when, work, grew
Bonus (High Frequency) Words: find, follow, found, four, full, these, way, were

SUPPLIES: First grade is in need of the following items: snacks (goldfish or animal crackers would be great), large bottles of hand sanitizer, and boxes of soft, non-school-issued tissues! Thanks for making First Grade a clean, comfortable place to learn!

UPCOMING DATES:
3/16 – PTA Covered Dish Dinner and Program (1st graders presenting on NJ Beaches)
3/17 – 1:00 Day/2nd Marking Period Conferences
3/18 – 1:00 Day/2nd Marking Period Conferences
3/19 – 1:00 Day/2nd Marking Period Conferences
3/20 – Spring Begins!!
5/21 – First Grade Class Trip (more details to follow; chaperones will be needed)

CONFERENCES
Please complete and return the yellow conference schedule form if you would like to set up a conference with me for the 2nd Marking Period. Report cards will be given out at Conferences.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions/concerns. Feel free to catch me before/after school, send a note in the homework folder, or email me at dmahoney@elmerschool.com.

Enjoy your weekend! Think Spring!

Mrs. Mahoney/Mrs. Johnson